Prunus plant named ‘Greentorch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Prunus  plant named ‘Greentorch’, characterized by its erect plant habit; columnar plant form; dense and bushy habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; and glossy dark green-colored leaves.

Botanical designation: Prunus laurocerasus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GREENTORCH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Prunus plant, botanically known as Prunus laurocerasus, commercially referred to as Cherry Laurel and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Greentorch’.

The new Prunus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Beaufort en Vallée, France. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Prunus plants with erect plant habit.

The new Prunus plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor in 2000 in Beaufort en Vallée, France of Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’, not patented. The new Prunus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled environment in Beaufort en Vallée, France in 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Prunus by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Beaufort en Vallée, France since Sep. 1, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Prunus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Prunus plant have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Greentorch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Greentorch’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Prunus plant:

-   -   1. Erect plant habit and columnar plant form.     -   2. Moderate branching habit; dense and bushy habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Prunus can be compared to the parent, ‘Otto Luyken’. Plants of the new Prunus differ primarily from plants of ‘Otto Luyken’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Prunus are more compact and more erect than         plants of ‘Otto Luyken’.     -   2. Plants of the new Prunus were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Otto Luyken’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Prunus are shorter, broader,         lighter green in color and glossier than leaves of plants of         ‘Otto Luyken’.

Plants of the new Prunus can also be compared to Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Prunus differ primarily from plants of ‘Herbergii’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Prunus are more columnar than plants of         ‘Herbergii’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Prunus are shorter and broader         than leaves of plants of ‘Herbergii’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Prunus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Prunus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Greentorch’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical stem and leaves of ‘Greentorch’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 26-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Beaufort en Vallée, France. Plants were grown under typical Prunus commercial practices with day temperatures ranging from 6° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures ranging from 1° C. to 15° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Greentorch’. -   Parentage: Self-pollination of Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’,     not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two months at 15° C.         -   Time to develop a rooted plant, winter.—About six months at             10° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Evergreen perennial shrub; erect plant             habit and columnar plant form; moderate branching habit;             dense and bushy habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 132.2 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 55.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About 21. Length:             About 47.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About             2.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing: Close to 144C. Color, developed: Close to 199B             to 199C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acute to short apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Shallow serrations; revolute.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster.—Glossy.         -   Glands.—Location: On lower leaf surfaces near the leaf base.             Quantity: Two to four per leaf Shape: Circular. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—When developing, upper surface: Slightly darker than             143A. When developing, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             developed, upper surface: Darker than between N137A and             147A; venation, close to 144B to 144C. Fully developed,             lower surface: Close to 146C to 146D; venation, close to             144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C and 145A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Prunus. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Prunus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Prunus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Prunus have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain and wind. Plants of     the new Prunus have been observed to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     6 and to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Prunus plant named ‘Greentorch’ as illustrated and described. 